Japan's industry ministry says there are technical difficulties with three proposed options for disposing of treated radioactive wastewater stored at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The wastewater includes water that has been used to cool the molten nuclear fuel following the March 2011 meltdowns, as well as rainwater that has flowed into the ground under the reactors. It is then treated to remove most radioactive substances, but some elements, including tritium, remain. The volume of stored water has been increasing.

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine to mark the two-day autumn festival.

Suga sent a potted plant to the shrine on Saturday.

A spokesperson of Vietnam's foreign ministry has expressed optimism about Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide's upcoming visit to the country.

Starting Sunday, Suga is making his first overseas trip since becoming leader. He will meet Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and also visit Indonesia for talks with President Joko Widodo.

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has held talks with the president of the Science Council of Japan, Kajita Takaaki. The chief of the leading academic body handed Suga a written request asking for an explanation of his refusal to appoint six nominees as new members and calling for their appointment.

Suga and Kajita held talks for about 15 minutes at the prime minister's office on Friday afternoon. They exchanged opinions on the role of the council going forward.

NHK has learned that Japan's government briefed local authorities on how to dispose of radioactive wastewater stored at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Local sources say the briefing was based on the premise that the water will be released into the sea. The idea has not been supported by the fisheries industry and others.

A Japanese pharmaceutical company has applied for government approval to use its anti-flu drug Avigan to treat COVID-19 patients.

Fujifilm Toyama Chemical, which is part of the Fujifilm Holdings group of companies, filed the application with Japan's health ministry on Friday.

A UNESCO World Heritage site in western Japan has reopened to visitors after it was damaged by a typhoon.

Gunkanjima, or Battleship Island, off Nagasaki Prefecture was once home to Hashima Coal Mine. The site is recognized as contributing to Japan's industrial revolution.

Job-hunting season has started in Japan for next year's high school graduates. It started about one month later than usual due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

A company in Yokohama, near Tokyo, which operates about 126 supermarkets in and around the capital, held exams on Friday.

The Japanese government plans to come up with guidelines to prevent coronavirus infections among people who visit shrines or attend other large-scale events during the New Year holidays.

Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi spoke at the inaugural meeting of an expert panel on Friday.

Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Kajiyama Hiroshi has said the government is seeking to reach a conclusion as early as possible on how to dispose of radioactive water stored at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Water used to cool molten nuclear fuel from the March 2011 accident is treated to remove most of the radioactive material. However, tritium and some other substances remain in the water, and the amount of such water stored at the Fukushima plant has been increasing.

Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has pledged to tackle key issues as he marks his first month in office on Friday.

Suga told reporters it has been a month since he formed a Cabinet that works for the people, and he feels time has passed very quickly. He added that he is always mindful of carrying out what should be done with a sense of speed, and without hesitation.

NHK has learned that Japan's Defense Ministry will mainly look into using ships in its study of offshore alternatives to the Aegis Ashore missile defense system.

The land-based Aegis Ashore is designed to use radar and interceptor missiles to stop ballistic missiles. Japan planned to deploy it in response to a surge in North Korean ballistic missile tests.

An online petition is calling for legislation in Japan banning discrimination against sexual minorities as Tokyo gears up to host the Olympics and Paralympics next year.

Groups supporting sexual minorities, along with the international non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch, started collecting signatures online on Thursday.

An expert panel has basically approved anti-infection measures to be taken for next year's standardized university entrance exams in Japan, which would take place amid the pandemic.

The measures will allow "close contact" to an infected person to take the test under conditions.